Hi Barry
Add two more to that list, Me and another guy local to me, Mine was broken
some time before I realised. It was in a Herald estate and I only noticed a
problem when I loaded her up, I'm sure I would have realised much sooner
with the mod you describe!
Graham.
Ps where I work we get offcuts of ptfe strip 1/2" wide by 1/4 inch thick or
there abouts (it can be shaved or machined down in thickness) in lengths
about the right size for a leaf width, I may be able to do something for the
price of shipping!
----- Original Message -----
From: Barry Schwartz <bschwart@pacbell.net>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: rear springs
>
> > The portion of the second leaf that needs to be cut is indeed that
> >portion that loops around. You can envision where this interference
would
> >occur if you look at the spring and think about compressing it.
> *********************************************
> One word of caution about removing this loop. The part of the spring that
> were talking about here is also there for a very good safety reason. If
> the lower spring leaf (the only one clamped solidly to the diff housing)
> were to break, and this other loop was cut off, you WILL loose all your
> upper lateral location with the way this suspension system was designed.
> The spring in this design is your upper "a-arm" so to speak. With that
> loop there, at least the leaf is somewhat contained. These springs can and
> do break. In a racing situation, while still dangerous it wouldn't harm
an
> UNWITTING individual in crowded traffic, as most racing individuals
realize
> the havoc that can happen on the track and are willing to accept that
risk.
> Just something to consider. If I had cut this loop from mine, I would
> hate to think what would have happened when mine broke, while negotiating
a
> tight turn on a freeway on ramp.
> I am really not trying to start some kind of panic or other such nonsense,
> but if it were to cause a serious injury accident, and by some chance some
> accident investigator were to find out that you purposely removed this
> *restraint* than you *could* be considered the cause of such. Just
> something to think about -
> I realize that the possibility of breakage is very remote, but it did
> happen to me - and BL obviously thought it was a possibility.
>
> Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net
>
> 72 PI, V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
> 70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
> 70 Spitfire (long term project)
>
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